TAMPA – Aaron Rodgers came out the winner against Tom Brady in the latest showdown featuring the GOATs, but it was anything but a gunslinger shootout.
It was more like survival for the Green Bay Packers quarterback, who withstood the pressure of one of the NFL’s best defenses and banked on an early cushion to secure a 14-12 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
A crowd of 69,197 witnessed the drama – the largest ever for a regular-season game at Raymond James Stadium – and it might not mark the last time we’ll see Brady and Rodgers face off.
Remember, these teams could meet again in the NFC playoffs as they did two seasons ago when the Bucs won the NFC title at Lambeau Field en route to their Super Bowl crown.
This time, the sigh of relief for Rodgers and the Pack came down to a two-point conversion attempt with 14 seconds left, when Brady’s pass for Russell Gage in the corner of the end zone was batted away. The Bucs had the opportunity to tie the game with a 13-play, 89-yard drive capped by Brady’s 1-yard throw to Gage over the middle.
The @Packers prevent the 2-pt conversion! #GBvsTB pic.twitter.com/0qyneZbAix
— NFL (@NFL) September 25, 2022
Rodgers finished 27-of-35 for 255 yards with two TDs, which capped two first-half drives that gave Green Bay a 14-3 halftime edge.
Brady was 31-of-42 for 271 yards with a touchdown. Without suspended receiver Mike Evans and injured wideouts Julio Jones and Chris Godwin, Gage was the go-to target, garnering 12receptions for 87 yards.
